Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 10:31:58 +0300 (EET DST)
Subject: Re: social theory, anthropology


Lisa,

about your post on "social theory, science, anthropology":
that's interesting. I hope you'll forward some stuff of your
Pen-l discussion.

" My kind of anthro explicitly uses things like game theory
and addresses foraging in terms of collective action
problems, with free riders and such, so some people think it
is anathema to any social theory and especially marxism. I'm
not sure how to put it together with marxism, but I'm sure
that it is applicable to non-capitalists, and I think it is
one way to approach a social theory. To look at the
interactions between the individuals _is_ to examine the
ways in which they may assemble themselves into groups, or
not. "

I don't see why it should be 'anathema'. Why people couldn't
use different methodological orientations with different
problems? Some time ago phenomenology was used in certain
contexts in social research because trad orientations were
powerless. Of course there was those who thought it to be
un-marxist, anti-materialist etc etc. Finally they shut
their mouths, perhaps because of results of those
applications...

Perhaps you coud tell us some more about game theory and
rational choice theory in anthropology?

Earler you asked about "Social theory":

" Ah... what is "social theory"? I've been hearing a little
about "social systems theory" lately, anybody want to take
that on? "

Perhaps little later?

Yours, Jukka L



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